STAR’s true star, Petr, retires: 38 yrs
Justus takes executive director reins
“It’s been 38 years,” Petr said. “I have done a lot in that 38 years … it’s time.”
However, she said the real motivation to hand over the reins is “I felt like there needed to be a younger person’s viewpoint. It’s been the same person in that chair for a long time, and that’s not healthy for any organization.
“As much as I don’t think I’ve done a bad job, I think there’s always a better job that could be done,” Petr added.
And, she found Justus.
“We had hired a firm to help us, and we had 47 (applicants),” Petr said.
But the numbers were narrowed down by a committee of STAR’s board, who chose Justus, who comes mostly from a NASCAR marketing background.
“Emily reminds me a little bit of me,” Petr said. “I really feel like we’ve got the right person. She’ll be able to take STAR where I couldn’t.”
Justus was born in Knoxville and lived for about 10 years in Chicago before moving to Maryville, where she graduated from Maryville High School before earning her marketing and Master’s of Business Administration degree from Elon University in North Carolina.
After graduation, she started out in the non-profit sector, working for higher education at University of Virginia. Then she had the opportunity to work in NASCAR sponsorships.
With Justus’ new role, “it’s a lot of learning, but I think once I get my foot in, it will all make sense,” the new executive director said.
STAR, started in 1987, was the brainchild of Petr, who came up with the idea while she was in graduate school at University of Tennessee.
“STAR was my master thesis project,” she said. “I had an epiphany moment at a horse camp the summer between my freshman and sophomore year.”
After Petr graduated, she opened STAR and got married — all in 1987.
“This (11800 Highway 11E between Farragut and Lenoir City) is our fifth location,” she said. “Our permanent one. We were able to purchase this property and slowly build as we had money to make it into what you see here today.”
Petr said they did the groundbreaking on the latest site in late August 2001.
“Sept. 11 hit just two weeks later, so it was a really hard time to raise money,” she recalled. “But we did it. It’s a grassroots organization, so it was many people pitching in, not any one person carrying the load.
“True to East Tennessee nature, many people stepped up,” Petr added.
STAR’s mission is “to foster personal achievement by providing therapeutic experiences using horse-related activities for persons with disabilities or other special challenges.”
The organization works with children and adults with physical, cognitive and neurological conditions; veterans through its Heroes & Horses program; at-risk
youth through its Changing Strides program; and memory care residents.
Along with classes, it also offers equine experience retreats and other learning options.
